Posts Tagged ‘halitosis’

Simple but effective ways to fight bad breath: get advice from Merseyside dentists

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Having bad breath can really knock your confidence. Imagine being worried every time you smile and talk that you are emitting unpleasant odours from your mouth which are being noticed by your peers and colleagues. Bad breath is not something that you have to put up with and there a number of simple ways you can combat it.

Bad breath – the medical name is halitosis – is brought on by bacteria in the mouth. The best way to beat bad breath is to ensure that these bacteria are removed. The bacteria can be caused by excess plaque in the mouth so it is essential that this plaque is removed by brushing and flossing properly. Plaque is formed every time you eat food, especially food that is particularly sugary and starchy. You should brush and floss at least twice a day and after meals too if the problem with bad breath is bad.

The bacteria causing bad breath can build up on the tongue so you might wish to brush your tongue too as part of your home oral hygiene routine. Be sure to brush gently though as your tongue is a sensitive organ and you don’t want to damage it.

Chewing gum is an effective way to relieve the symptoms of bad breath, particularly if you are on the move. The often minty flavour is pleasant to smell and the motion of chewing helps to stimulate saliva and dislodge food debris.

Sometimes dentists might recommend that you use a special mouthwash to combat bad breath. In some cases bad breath can be a signal of a deeper problem with your mouth, gum disease perhaps. You ought to contact your Merseyside dentist if you are suffering from bad breath and want more advice about how to eliminate it.

Beat bad breath at Merseyside dentist

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Of all the personal hygiene problems people have, bad breath is definitely one of the worst. It can make being around someone very unpleasant, yet the fact is we have probably all had breath at one time or another, although it is true that some people suffer far more than others. The worst thing about bad breath, or halitosis as it is otherwise known, is that it is very difficult to know when you have it unless you experience the embarrassment of somebody telling you.

It is important to remember that there are several easy steps to getting rid of bad breath. This does not include the use of mouthwashes or breath sprays as many people think. Mints, sprays and mouthwashes in fact do little more than mask the smell temporarily and it will return in anything between ten minutes and two hours. In some cases, mouthwash can even make the problem worse because it destabilises the delicate bacteria/saliva balance in the mouth, the body’s natural defence against bad breath.

The key to stopping bad breath is better oral hygiene. Over 90 per cent of cases of halitosis are cause by poor oral hygiene. The main reason for this is that food particles that get trapped in between teeth and in the grooves of the tongue attract bacteria. When this begins to decay it releases nasty smelling chemicals that are carried out on the breath making it smell. More thorough tooth brushing and crucially, flossing will remove these food particles before they can begin to break down. A Merseyside dentist will be able to explain in more detail how best to clean your teeth to stop bad breath at your next appointment.

Prevent bad breath with a visit to a Toxteth dentist

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Everyone has probably suffered from bad breath at one point or other, whether you know it or not. And therein lies the problem. It is very difficult to tell when you have bad breath unless it is embarrassingly pointed out to you by someone else. All the hand-cupping techniques and wrist licking can’t ever really prove if you’re breath smells. The only real weapon against bad breath is prevention.

Bad breath can be caused by issues such as poor digestion or intestinal problems but over 90 per cent of cases are caused by bacteria in the mouth and poor standards of oral hygiene. Bacteria thrive in the mouth where conditions are perfect. There are 500 million bacteria that live on the average human tongue alone. Another cause of bad breath is the food matter that gets caught between the teeth and decays. When this happens it releases foul smelling sulfurous compounds which cause the breath to smell.

Mouthwashes and other bad breath fighting measures such as chewing gum can mask the smell but they won’t tackle the cause of the problem and it will return. The best way to combat bad breath is to brush your teeth properly twice a day and floss in the morning to remove food mater from between the teeth. Flossing is particularly useful as it cleans areas that conventional brushes are unable to reach. Brushing and flossing also help to fight plaque, a filmy substance full of bacteria that lives on the enamel of the teeth. Plaque is also a cause of bad odour and by removing it not only will your breath smell better but it will also help to keep teeth free from decay and cavities. It is also important to brush or scrape the tongue using a specially designed brush. The bristles on normal brushes are too soft to effectively clean the tongue so it is a good idea to buy a special brush. A dentist in Toxteth will be able to recommend which cleaning tools are the best for your mouth during a routine check up.

Bad breath can therefore act as a warning sign that your oral hygiene regime isn’t quite up to scratch and could do with improving. A dentist will be able to offer instruction in how to clean more effectively. Remember to keep up your six-monthly check-ups at the dentist and help to fight tooth decay and have fresh smelling breath.

Take Tips on How to Get Rid of Bad Breath from Toxteth Dentist

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Bad breath or halitosis is an embarrassing condition that affects hundreds of people worldwide. It is not necessary to suffer this condition in silence as there are many effective cures available to tackle this problem. In most cases, the root cause of bad breath is the anaerobic oral bacteria which have accumulated in the person’s mouth, between the teeth and gums.

The best way to detect if you have bad breath is to ask your nose. If you aren’t able to make out, seek the opinion of your children or spouse or even your dentist who will be able to tell if you have halitosis. One of the simplest ways to smell your own breath is to lick your wrist and wait for five seconds to dry; then smell the saliva to get a whiff of your breath.

Bad breath can be caused by a many different reasons; foodstuffs like onion and garlic cause a foul odour. If you do not brush or floss regularly, food particles can get accumulated between the teeth which can lead to halitosis. Conditions like xerostomia where the person has very little production of saliva can also lead to bad breath. Sometimes other medical problems like respiratory tract infections, diabetes, sinusitis and salivary gland diseases can also cause bad breath.

Maintaining a healthy oral regimen is the key to preventing bad breath. Brush twice a day in the morning and at bedtime with a fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly to clean the teeth well. Instead of regular mouthwashes which are only cosmetic, your dentist in Toxteth will be able to prescribe special antibacterial mouth rinses which are very effective for bad breath. Also remember to periodically consult your dentist for regular cleaning and check up which will help you to keep your breath free of any odour.